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New applications

Applications can continue to be submitted by post to Belfast Planning Service, Ground Floor, Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP. However, as the majority of staff are working remotely, postal applications are taking longer to process than emailed submissions. Please note that as the office is currently closed to the public, we are unable to accept hand delivered applications.

The following parts of our service are only partially available:

Duty Planner is now operating as a remote service contactable by email or telephone.

Hard copy planning applications can only submitted by post are being dealt with more slowly because of limited access to the office and we strongly encourage customers to submit new applications, amended plans and pre-application discussions by email, following the advice in our guidance document. Download guidance document (PDF 901KB)

The following parts of our service are unavailable:

No site visits are being undertaken for planning applications due to Government restrictions on movement and social distancing, however we are working on a strategy to safely introduce these into the service.

We are unable to receive applications delivered by hand because the office is closed to the public.

We are unable to provide face-to-face meetings due to social distancing, however, we are providing a virtual meeting service.

Customers are unable to view planning application files and other information in the office, which is closed. Applications, including plans and supporting information, are available to view online on the NI Planning Portal website – Public Access. If you are unable to access the Planning Portal please contact us by email at planning@belfastcity.gov.uk or by telephoning 02890 500 510 and we will assist you.

If you have submitted an application by email and have not received an acknowledgement within five working days, please contact us by emailing planning@belfastcity.gov.uk. We are currently unable to acknowledge applications submitted by post.

How to contact us

Please send all correspondence by email to planning@belfastcity.gov.uk, as this will ensure it is processed as quickly as possible. Please use this email address for submitting new applications, requests for general planning advice or updates on the status of a current planning application. Please include brief details of your enquiry, including your name, address and a contact telephone number and where relevant, the planning application reference number.

Alternatively, if you do not have access to email, please call 028 9050 0510 to speak to someone who will log your details and arrange for an officer to contact you.

If you have any other issues that you would like to raise and, most importantly, potential solutions for overcoming these, please let us know by emailing planning@belfastcity.gov.uk.

Read about our work to protect the city’s 12 conservation areas through the introduction of special arrangements, known as Article 4 directions. You’ll also find information on Tree Preservation Orders (TPO), a statutory protection afforded to trees under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.